50 comments:

Fun puzzle today. Nearly a complete walk in the park, except that I stumbled briefly by going with SUPPOSE instead of SURMISE. That didn't take too long to correct, however.

I thought the theme was cute, although I didn't need to know it to get the theme answers. CABBAGE ROSE was actually a total unknown, but by the time I noticed that answer I already had CABBAGEROS_ filled in via the perps and it was pretty easy to guess at that point...

I saw C.C.'s name on the puzzle as I opened it, and knew I was in for a smooth ride. And of course, I was not disappointed. Unfortunately, once I picked up on the theme, I realized that I would have to scrap a puzzle I am working on with the reveal STUFF IT! (Rats!)

I was impressed with the overlapping entries on this one - that is not an easy thing to do. And as Argyle already mentioned, BE NICE and OR ELSE sitting next to each other gave me a real chuckle.

d-otto, I usually have anywhere from 4-5 puzzles at various stages. Most of them are in the theme-developing stage, and usually only one or two that actually have a grid developed. My STUFF IT had the grid and most of the clues written. Oh well...

Thanks C.C. and Argyle for a nice start to a very busy morning here. When I saw C.C., I was expecting a little baseball! Great theme.

I can smell the CABBAGE ROSES. I chuckled at college application ESSAYS. I read enough of those to last a lifetime. The best ones were always something offbeat: how cereals reveal who people are and why I am like such and such a cereal. Over the years: Admission to Stanford of three students who wrote about food. The cereal, Gummy Bears and Krispy Kremes. :-)

A mostly fun puzzle today although I found the South a little trickier then the North. In the end though, it was a FIW for Hondo.

I don't text, therefore I am not familiar with s good amount of the lingo and I seldom cook, so a Non-stick cookware brand a foreign language to me. Therefore, I wagged an R ending up with T-rAL for 65A & BFrS for 58D.

CABBAGE ROSE I managed to get, but it's another new term for me. This blog is such a great learning tool for me............now if I could improve on my retention capabilities!

Don't know what the temp is here and don't really care. All I'm sure of is that it's cold & going to be getting worse.

Smooth run, WBS about suppose before SURMISE. Also had CABBAGE ROLL before ROSE, but then realized it would fit the theme, but not the clue.Thanks, CC and Argyle. Sorry Marti - can you submit it somewhere else or post it for a "bonus" on the blog like George Barany does?

Good and easy today, and as I got into it, I had a feeling it might be C.C.'s, and on checking, of course it was. Cute theme!

Too bad for Marti, but maybe you can make adjustments to get it working again.

I rarely get stuck on something I'm really in doubt about, because I solve like a basket weave, checking perps everywhere there's doubt before filling, so for me then it's pauses rather than having to change things. Only when I feel certain of a wrong answer, that's when I have to backtrack and redo.

Musings-I wonder if C.C. got The Jetsons in Guangzhou-A parole officer I know told me PEPPER SPRAY is his only “weapon”-WILE’s tools of the trade-Omaha Univ. changed from the Indians to the MAVericks in 1971-Our plumber giggled when he saw my attempt at REPAIRing a drain-The fabulous ROY O was in the worst movie ever-A bag of these high-tech SEEDS could run you $300-My SIL always said “OR ELSE” but never followed through-This movie we saw yesterday has proven to be CROWD PLEASER (91% on Rotten Tomatoes)-The EPILOG for the above movie was great as well -I agree Otto, I liked SANTA’s SIENNA/TERRA combo-I’ll be in the OR Friday but, hopefully, not need an ICU-I learned about this RAFT painting in the Louvre on the Smithsonian Channel last week. If you know this painting, I’m impressed!-Rather than be STONY, what did Charles Emerson Winchester do when he had a good poker hand?

Got the North easily. The South was trickier. I think someone else said that too.

Theme was good. I enjoy all those stuffed foods except the SOLE. Stuffed Peppers and Stuffed Cabbage (or cabbage rolls, or golabki) are my favorites. I do cook them both myself. My wife showed me how years ago and she quit cooking them ever since.

Not familiar with I AM LEGEND.

I have heard of TFAL. We do not use non-stick pans anymore. Not sure the stuff that flakes off is any good for you. We own four cast iron skillets. had five but gave gone to our daughter. We have a #3, 5, 7, and 10. The numbers refer to the number of eggs you can cook in the frying pan. FYI.

Just had TERRA the other day, only tied to COTTA.

I am still working on Sunday's puzzle. Hope to finish it today.

It was about 8 degrees this morning when I got up. Has not been above freezing for weeks in Chicagoland.

Smooth sailing today through this elegant offering from our fearless leader! Paused a bit at Pin Money; seems we've had that within the past year, but I'm kinda iffy on its meaning. I was thinking the thrifty householder had to save up a few coins to buy sewing notions - to keep wardrobe malfunctions to a minimum.

Morning, Argyle, I see your point. This would have been a fit for Steve.

C.C. STUFFED this STUFFING puzzle with a lot of good STUFF. Any theme with food makes me salivate. Mostly a straightforward solve. No searches were needed.SIR NO SIR - Never had to experience it up close and personal, but have uttered plenty of Yes Sirs and No Sirs.GRAMPS - My grandkids call me Opa (German) to avoid confusion with their other (in-law) Grampas.

Al @ 0639. I made 4 piss calls during the night, too, to check pipes. Down to -12º.

Quite the stroll down the food aisle today. Didn't get the theme until the reveal, but it was easy enough without that help. Favorite of the stuffed foods for me would be sole stuffed with crab, but am more familiar with stuffed flounder.

We're having a nice day here, but it's a roller coaster. Today's high is predicted in the mid to upper 40's. Tomorrow...low 20's. No prolonged relief in the 7 day. Maybe March will bring improvement.

It's always a thrill to see that we're getting a C.C. puzzle. This one started out as a speed run for me, but slowed down with E READERS, which flummoxed me at first. But eventually it all fell into place--many thanks, C.C. And you too, Argyle!

When I saw STUFFED SOLE, I thought "Really?" Then I remembered the first dinner I ever made for my husband. I didn't cook in those days and so told him we'd just have pizza, and he said he had pizza for lunch every day, and would love a "real dinner." I panicked and went to Trader Joe's where I found a STUFFED SOLE with directions on how to cook it. It turned out great. Haven't had it in years--I should go back to TJs and look for it again--maybe for our anniversary!

Hands up for being among those who find both CC's and Marti's puzzles to be the most fun and enjoyable to solve; not too easy nor too difficult.

While the theme (STUFFED) was not evident until the very end, the solves came predictably, of course until I hit the wall in the SW corner

Nice CSO to Argyle (Santa) as well as a nice recap of the puzzle; a few mini-SO's to Tinbeni with 24A/46A, and yours truly with 56A

27A - I have moved up at least one or two TEES from when I was a consistent, single-digit handicap golfer. Despite living in SW FL, I usually play only 1-2 times per month, so using the "correct" TEES has made me enjoy the game again

As for the answer to 10D, I have an old friend who uses that term a lot; I suspect one of his aunts or his mom used it. I checked the origin of PIN MONEY; since I got it from the internet, it must be true!

I remembered the answer to 28D from an old box of Crayola Crayons my sister had. My box had only 8 colors; hers 64. She excelled in art; I did not. Not to worry, though. 8 colors + Burnt SIENNA are more than enough for me!! ;^)

I have never said or heard anyone say "Sir, no Sir!" or "Sir, yes Sir!" except in movies. Like Spitzboov, I have said "Yes Sir" and "No Sir" many times. I have also said "How high, Sir?" and "What color, Sir?"

Really enjoyed and breezed through this one, despite being a veritable crossword newbie (at the ripe age of 67 after retiring as a newspaperman). When I saw EPILOG, I immediately thought of the final scene in every (maybe except the last episode) of TV's Fugitive. Also, this grandfather had fun with Grampa/Gramps) -- "Jeff's Collie" (not "Lassie" as many presume) featured Gramps (George Cleveland), who died during filming in the fourth season during the mid-'50s. Show also featured Tommy Rettig and Jan Clayton, Pokey the dog and "Jeff's" friend Porky (Ruby Keeler's nephew Joey Vieira or something like that).

Never heard of T-Fal, but my BFF beau WAGed it...(not perped, WAGed, I have no idea how to spell Beau...)

Pin money never occurred to me, but in my warped mind, I guess it makes sense. I have "flat tire money", which I hide in the deepest, darkest recess of my wallet so I don't spend it unless it is an emergency. In that perspective, it makes sense to pin money where you cannot easily reach it...

But my nit,,,

I stared & stared at Phnmoney, & could find no recourse but to come to the Blog. (as if you could keep me away...)

You see, I remember distinctly an episode where the Coyote introduces himself to the Roadrunner with a business card the says WILE E. COYOTE

Speed Run! My paper doesn't print the constructors' name so I had to come here to find out who gifted us with this gem. Thanks, C.C.! This started my day out well: temp on the + side of 0*, fun puzzle, good night's sleep. Your expo was the icing on the cake, Argyle.

Favorite clue/answer: Christmas celebrity/SANTA. One of my cousins is Santa.

Belated Happy Birthdays to Keith Fowler and to Argyle. I hope you had wonderful days.

Argyle at 2:17. Yep. That was my thought with no experience: Sir ,yes, Sir! All Marine-- above and beyond. No, disrespect to other services-- I'm from an all Army family. When my former students--Marine men and women--came back to school, they always knocked my socks off!! Full dress uniform--no desert fatigues--and Remarkable Respect.